Football practice apparatus with force indicating means



3 1968 P. P. JANICH m, ETAL 3,365,947

FOOTBALL PRACTICE APPARATUS WITH FORCE INDICATING MEANS FIG. 2

h 7. C 0 0 w 6 M 2 M W w l 1 UL 1968 P. P. JANICH m, ETAL 3,

FOOTBALL PRACTICE APPARATUS WITH FORCE INDICATING' MEANS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 4, 1964 FIG 8 FIG. IO

INVENTORS. PETER PAUL JAN/04122 t/m/ce J. 0/4 1 52/N U5%Q.W

' A TTOP/VEY r BY United States Patent 3,365,947 FOOTBALL PRACTICE AllPARATlUS WITH FGRCE INDICATING MEANS Peter Paul .Ianich III, 465!) Pepperwood Ave., Long Beach, Calif. 90803, and Vince J. Chaverini,

3382 lane St., Riverside, Calif. 925% Filed Mar. 4, 1964, Ser. No. 349,459 6 Claims. (Cl. 73-380) The present invention relates generally to the field of athletic equipment, and more particularly to an apparatus for use in football practice to determine the blocking capabilities of a player, as well as the force a player can exert on the line of scrimmage.

In the past, various devices have been evolved and used to test a football players skill, but in the main, such equipment has been heavy and cumbersome and met with but limited commercial success. Furthermore, such prior devices have not been capable of measuring with any degree of accuracy, the blocking capability of an individual A major object of the present invention is to provide a football practice apparatus that eliminates substantially all of the disadvantages found in previously available equipment of the type described, and one that can be used to test individually, either a players blocking ability or the force he can exert at the line of scrimmage.

Another object of the invention is to furnish a football practice apparatus that is compact, can be moved to any desired location on a field or in a gymnasium, is of simple mechanical structure, and one which requires a minimum of maintenance attention.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of a first and a second form thereof, and from the drawings illustrating the same, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the football practice apparatus of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a front elevational view of the practice apparatus;

FIGURE 3 .is an exploded perspective View of the device;

FIGURE 4 is a combined longitudinal and side elevational view of a first alternate form of the practice apparatus;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary vertical cross-sectional view of the apparatus, taken on the line 55 of FIG- URE 1;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical crosssectional view of the device;

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged detailed view of the portion of the apparatus encircled in dotted line in FIGURE 6;

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary transverse crossssectional view of the apparatus, taken on the line li8 of FIG URE 6;

FIGURE 9 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the forward upper portion of the frame for the apparatus;

FIGURE 10 is a side elevational View of a ring that is slidably mounted on the housing, shown in FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 11 is a side elevational view of an alternate form of the apparatus.

With continuing reference to the drawings for the general arrangement of the invention, it will be seen in FIG- URES 1 and 2 that an elongate blocking pad A is provided which is rnovably supported from a frame B. The pad A is adapted to occupy either a first position shown in solid line in FIGURE 2, or a second position shown in phantom line in the same figure wherein the major axis of the pad is horizontally positioned.

3,365,947 Patented Jan. 30, 1968 The pad A is supported on the forward end of a first red C that is slidably mounted in a cylinder D, which in turn is alfixed to frame B. A circular plate E is affixed in an intermediate position on rod C, and this plate is at all times situated within the confines of cylinder D. A helical spring F is also located within cylinder D, one end of which is in abutting contact with plate E. Spring F at all times resists rearward motion of pad A, rod C, and plate E relative to frame B.

An elongate tubular housing G is afiixed to the rear end of cylinder D. Housing G supports a longitudinally extending graduated scale H at an elevated position thereabove. A ring J is slidably supported on housing G, and two laterally spaced needles K project upwardly from this ring, positioned on opposite sides of the scale H.

A second rod L is connected to the rear end of the first rod C. A crosspiece M extends outwardly in opposing directions from the junction of rods C and L, and is removably alfixed thereto. Crosspiece M projects through two longitudinally extending, oppositely disposed slots N formed in housing G. When rods C and L and crosspiece M are moved relative to housing G, the crosspiece moves ring I on the housing. The needles K indicate on scale H the degree to which the ring I has been moved.

The degree of movement of ring I on housing G is proportional to the magnitude of force applied to pad A, or to an eye 0 formed on the rear end portion of second rod L.

The eye 0 is so formed that a bucking strap (not shown) may be atfixed thereto, and this strap is affixed to a harness (not shown) which is worn by a player. Whilewearing the harness, a player runs in a crouched or low ered position in a direction away from frame B whereby the eye 0 then transfers the force of the players run to the rod L. Movement of rod L, crosspiece M, and rod C causes movement of ring I and needles K on housing G to indicate the force exerted by the player while running in such a manner.

In detail, the frame B comprises a vertical channel Ill that includes a web 12. Two flanges 14 extend rearwardly from the longitudinal edges of web 12. Two triangular gussets 16 are affixed to the lower portions of flanges 14 by bolts 18 which project through bores 20 formed in the flanges and gussets. The lower ends of gussets 16 are connected by a trapezoidal crosspiece 22.

Two elongate members 24 of L-shaped transverse cross section are provided, each of which includes a vertical flange 26 and a horizontal flange 28. A number of bores 31 are formed in each flange 26, which are alignable with bores 3% formed in one of the gussets 116. Bolts 32. project through bores 3d to secure members 24 to the gussets 16 as shown in FIGURE 1.

A third elongate member 34 is provided that is of L- shaped transverse cross section, which has two gussets 36 on the ends thereof. Bolts 38 pass through aligned bores an formed in the rear portions of flanges 26' and the lower part of gussets 36 to removably hold the members 2-iand 34 together as a unit, which in cooperation with crosspiece 22, define a base P.

Two gussets 42 in which bores 44 are formed that are alignable with bores 44 formed in the upper portions of flanges 14 are provided. Bolts 46 extend through bores 44 to hold gussets 42 and channel Id of frame B together as a unit. Bores 43 and 5d are formed in gussets 4:2 and 36 that are alignable with like numbered bores formed in two elongate reinforcing legs 51. Bolts 52 and 54 extend through bores 48 and 53 to removably connect legs St to gussets 42 and 36.

The cylinder D includes an elongate shell 56 that has a rearwardly disposed end piece 60 from which a tubular boss 62 projects. The forward end of shell Ed is tapped,

and receives an externally threaded plug 58 through which a bore 64 extends longitudinally. Plug 58 has threads 66 formed thereon that engage a tapped bore 68 formed in web 12, as best seen in FIGURE 3. The two reinforcing legs 51 have transversely aligned plates 7d welded or otherwise atfixed thereto, as best seen in FIGURE 5. A crosspiece 72 is provided, that has an opening 74 formed therein through which boss 62 extends. The ends of crosspiece 72 are removably afixed to plates '70 by bolts 76.

A plate E is slidably movable inside shell 56, and this piston is rigidly connected to the first rod C that is slidably supported in bores 64 and 76 which extend through end piece 6t? and boss 62. A resilient helical spring F is disposed within cylinder D that bears against plate E and at all times tends to retain the piston and first rod C in the position relative to cylinder D shown in FIGURE 6.

Housing G comprises an elongate tubular shell 89 that has a heavied forward end portion 82 which removably engages that part of boss 62 which projects rearwardly of crosspiece 72. Housing G is removably held on boss 62 by a number of set screws 84- which project through tapped bores (not shown) formed in end portion 82, with the inner ends of these screws frictionally gripping the exterior surface of the boss 62.

The rear end of shell 86 is closed by an end piece 88 in which a centrally disposed bore 99 is formed. The second rod L is slidably supported on bore 96, and a pin 92 provided with threads 94 extends forwardly from this rod, as may best be seen in FIGURES 6 and 7. The threads 94 engage a tapped bore formed in the rear end of first rod C. Two slots N are formed in shell 8d.

A central portion 98 of crosspiece M is adapted to be disposed in a space 1% formed between the adjacent end surfaces of first rod C and second rod L (FIGURES 6 and 7). When the rod L is rotated in an appropriate direction relative to rod C, the width of space 16% is decreased, whereby crosspiece M is rigidly connected to these rods due to the adjacent end surfaces of the rods being in gripping contact with portion 98. The eye is formed as a part of the rear end of rod L, or rigidly connected thereto by conventional means.

The forward and rear portions 102 and 104 respectively, of the scale H support the scale at an elevated, longitudinally extending position above shell 80. Graduations 186 are imprinted on scale H. The ring I includes a resilient O-ring 1% that is affixed by conventional means to the interior thereof, and the internal diameter of this 0- ring is such as to permit it to engage the external surface of shell 80 with a slight amount of friction when the ring is mounted on the shell, as shown in FIGURE 3. When the outwardly extending legs 110 of crosspiece M engage ring I, the ring is moved along shell St The needles K mounted on ring I indicate the degree of this movement on graduaticns i496. O -ring 108 prevents inadvertent movement of ring I on shell 80 to give a false reading.

The blocking pad A includes a first elongate steel plate 1ft having a body of resilient material 112 disposed forwardly thereof. The material 112 is covered by a canvas sheet ill that laps over the rear surface of plate 110. Lacings 116 engage the overlapping canvas portions and removably secure the resilient material 112 and canvas 114 to the first plate 110, as shown in FIGURE 1. A second steel plate 118 of smaller dimensions than first plate 11a is welded, or otherwise secured, to the rear central portion of the first plate.

A first collar 12% is rigidly affixed to the center of second plate 113 and extends rearwardly therefrom. Collar 120 is provided with a set screw 122 by which the collar is removably affixed to the forward end of first rod C, as shown in FIGURE 1. A second collar 12 i is affixed to the rear surface of second plate 118, spaced a substantial distance from the first collar 126. Collar I124 is also provided with a set screw 125 which removably affixes the collar to the forward end of a guide rod 128.

Guide rod 128 may extend rearwardly through either of two openings 134 formed in web 12, which openings are spaced from one another. A tubular sleeve 132 is afiixed to each of the openings 13% and extends rearwardly from web 12. When guide rod 128 projects through one of the openings 13%, the major axis of the blocking pad A is vertically disposed, as shown in FIGURE 2 in solid line, and when the rod 128 is in the other openings, the major axis of the pad is horizontally disposed as illustrated in phantom line in the same figure.

The frame F is conveniently maintained at a desired location in a playing field by attaching the same to concrete blocks 134 that are embedded in the ground. Each block 134 envelops the sides of a vertically extending tapped tubular member 136, best seen in FIGURE 2, which can be threadedly engaged by bolts 138. One of the bolts 133 extends downwardly through an opening (not shown) in crosspiece 22. Two other bolts 138 extend downwardly through openings (not shown) formed in horizontal webs 146 which extend between the frame members 24 and 34 at the junction thereof. Should it be desired to use the apparatus indoors, the tubular members 136 can be embedded in the floor of a gymnasium, or other fastening means provided to hold frame B at a fixed position on the gym floor.

The use and operation of the practice apparatus have been described in detail hereinabove, and need not be repeated.

A first alternate form of the invention may be provided by removing cylinder D from the supported position shown in FIGURE 6 and substituting the air cylinder Q shown in FIGURE 4 therefor. A piston R is slidably mounted in cylinder Q. Piston R is connected to the rear end of a rod C that is identical to rod C, and extends through a plug 58' which is identical to plug 58. Plug 58' closes the forward end of cylinder Q, and a pressure air gauge S is connected to the interior of the cylinder. Air or gas under pressure can be discharged into the interior of cylinder Q through an inlet connection T that is provided with a valve U. The magnitude of the force exerted by a player on the pad A is reflected by movement of the needle 1142 forming a part of the gauge S. The force required to be exerted on pad A to move the needle 142 will be proportional to the pressure to which the cylinder Q is charged.

A side elevational view of an alternate form of the practice apparatus of the present invention is shown in FIGURE 11. The upper portion of this alternate form of the apparatus is similar to that previously described, other than that the frame B is replaced by a rigid upright T. The same numerals used in identifying the component parts of the first form of the invention are used in identifying like elements in the alternate form thereof, but a prime has been added thereto.

The lower end portion of upright T is slidably insertable in a vertical tubular sleeve 140 that projects downwardly through an opening 142 formed in a floor 144. The sleeve 140 is embedded in a block of concrete 146 or other anchoring means. The upper interior end of sleeve 146 is tapped and receives a bushing 148. Pairs of diametrically opposed bores 150 are formed in bushing 14% which are vertically alignable with similar bores (not shown) formed in the lower portion of upright T. A bolt or pin 152 may be extended through the pairs of bolts 150 to removably support the device relative to the door 144, as shown in FIGURE 11.

The alternate form of the device is used in the same manner as the form first described.

Although the present invention is fully capable of achieving the objects and providing the advantages hereinbefore mentioned, it is to be understood that it is merely illustrative of the presently preferred embodiments thereof and we do not mean to be limited to the details of construction herein shown and described, other than as defined in the appended claims.

5 We claim: 1. A portable football practice appanatus capable of being disposed in an operative position in a vertically positioned sleeve embedded in the ground, including:

(a) a vertically positioned upright, the lower end portion of which is disposed in said sleeve;

(b) first means for preventing rotation of said upright relative to said sleeve;

() a horizontal cylindrical shell mounted on the upper end of said upright;

(d) a blocking pad disposed forwardly of said shell;

(e) a first horizontally movable rod, a forward end of which is aflixed to said blocking pad and extends longitudinally through said shell;

(f) a plate affixed to said first rod, which plate is disposed inside said shell; I

(g) force generating means in said shell that at all times tend to maintain said plate in a forwardly disposed position, but with said force generating means yielding to permit concurrent rearward movement of said blocking pad, first rod and plate when a player exerts a rearwardly directed force against said plate, with the magnitude of yield of said force generating means being proportional to said force exerted by said player against said pad;

(h) means for visually indicating said magnitude of said yield of said force generating means;

(i) second means for maintaining said pad in a nonrotating position relative to said upright;

(i) an eye to which a bucking strap can be afiixed; and

(k) means connecting said eye to the rearward end of said first rod.

2. A football practice apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said force generating means comprises a helical spring in said shell, the forward end of which spring is in abutting contact with the rear surface of said plate.

3. A football practice apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said blocking pad includes:

(a) a first elongate rigid plate;

(b) a resilient body disposed forwardly of said first plate; 1

(c) a pliable sheet extending over said resilient body which overlaps rear edge surfaces of said first shell for holding said body in abutting contact with said first plate;

((1) a second rigid plate atfixed to the rear central portion of said first plate;

(e) a collar projecting rearwardly from said second plate in which a forward end portion of said first rod is disposed; and (f) means for removably holding said forward end portion of said first rod inside said collar.

4. A football practice apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said visual indicating means includes:

(a) a cylindrical housing in which oppositely disposed,

longitudinally extending slots are formed;

(b) means for supporting said housing in coaxial alignment with said shell;

(c) a graduated elongate scale supported in a longitudinally extending elevated position above said hous' (d) a ring slidably mounted on said housing;

(e) said eye connecting means consisting of a second rod in coaxial alignment with said first rod and affixed to the rear end thereof, which second rod is at least partially situated within said housing;

(f) a crosspiece in said housing that projects outwardly through said slots, with said crosspiece being removably gripped between adjacent end surfaces of said first and second rods, which crosspiece serves to move said ring rearwardly on said housing when said first and second rods are moved rearwardly by exertion of a rearward force by a player on said blocking pad; and

(g) at least one needle that extends upwardly from said ring to a position adjacent said scale to permit the accurate reading of the distance said ring has been moved on said housing, which reading indicates the maximum force said player has exerted on said blocking pad.

5. A football practice apparatus as defined in claim 4 which further includes means on said ring for preventing inadvertent movement of said ring on said housing.

6. A football practice apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein said means for preventing inadvertent movement of said ring on said housing comprises a circular resilient band affixed to said ring, with said band being of such dimensions as to frictionally engage said housing.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 963,890 7/1910 Haas 272-80 X 2,135,018 11/1938 Svensson 272-8O 2,680,967 6/1954 Newman 73--379 2,820,365 1/1958 Detzel 73380 X 2,929,629 3/1960 Feula 272'76 X 3,044,776 7/1962 Weidrn-aier et al 273-- 3,236,101 2/ 1966 Lemonick 73379 2,696,383 12/ 1954 Noftsinger 273-55 2,738,191 3/1956 Kalhoefer 27355 X ANTON O. OECHSLE, Primary Examiner.

RICHARD C. PINKHAM, Examiner.

L. I. BOVASSO, R. I. APLEY, Assistant Examiners. 

1. A PORTABLE FOOTBALL PRACTICE APPARATUS CAPABLE OF BEING DISPOSED IN AN OPERATIVE POSITION IN A VERTICALLY POSITIONED SLEEVE EMBEDDED IN THE GROUND, INCLUDING: (A) A VERTICALLY POSITIONED UPRIGHT, THE LOWER END PORTION OF WHICH IS DISPOSED IN SAID SLEEVE; (B) FIRST MEANS FOR PREVENTING ROTATION OF SAID UPRIGHT RELATIVE TO SAID SLEEVE; (C) A HORIZONTAL CYLINDRICAL SHELL MOUNTED ON THE UPPER END OF SAID UPRIGHT; (D) A BLOCKING PAD DISPOSED FORWARDLY OF SAID SHELL; (E) A FIRST HORIZONTALLY MOVABLE ROD, A FORWARD END OF WHICH IS AFFIXED TO SAID BLOCKING PAD AND EXTENDS LONGITUDINALLY THROUGH SAID SHELL; (F) A PLATE AFFIXED TO SAID FIRST ROD, WHICH PLATE IS DISPOSED INSIDE SAID SHELL; (G) FORCE GENERATING MEANS IN SAID SHELL THAT AT ALL TIMES TEND TO MAINTAIN SAID PLATE IN A FORWARDLY DISPOSED POSITION, BUT WITH SAID FORCE GENERATING MEANS YIELDING TO PERMIT CONCURRENT REARWARD MOVEMENT OF SAID BLOCKING PAD, FIRST ROD AND PLATE WHEN A PLAYER EXERTS A REARWARDLY DIRECTED FORCE AGAINST SAID PLATE, WITH THE MAGNITUDE OF YIELD OF SAID FORCE GENERATING MEAND BEING PROPORTIONAL TO SAID FORCE EXERTED BY SAID PLAYER AGAINST SAID PAD; (H) MEANS FOR VISUALLY INDICATING SAID MAGNITUDE OF SAID YIELD OF SAID FORCE GENERATING MEANS; (I) SECOND MEAND FOR MAINTAINING SAID PAD IN A NONROTATING POSITION RELATIVE TO SAID UPRIGHT; (J) AN EYE TO WHICH A BUCKING STRAP CAN BE AFFIXED; AND (K) MEANS CONNECTING SAID EYE TO THE REARWARD END OF SAID FIRST ROD. 